Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1605’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1605’ which is characterized by the combination of a relatively large plant size, an upright to outward growth habit, long, linear succulent foliage with a semi-terete cross-section, green foliage with inconspicuous green radial bands, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Sansevieria hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Sansevieria disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘SUPSAN1605’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2016/3021, filed Dec. 1, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The Sansevieria variety ‘SUPSAN1605’ originated as a seedling selection from the controlled pollination of the proprietary seed parent, Sansevieria hybrid ‘MXJM1105’ (not patented), with the proprietary pollen parent, Sansevieria hybrid ‘MXJF1105’ (not patented). Both parents were developed by, and are owned by, the inventor and were never commercially released. Said crossing was conducted by the inventor in a small, netted greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand in December of 2008. Seeds from said cross were harvested, then germinated, and the resulting seedlings were grown to a mature size in order to evaluate for a desirable combination of commercial characteristics. In June of 2011, one candidate plant was observed to exhibit a unique growth habit and leaf coloration. After confirmation of the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed, the inventor selected the new Sansevieria cultivar, ‘SUPSAN1605’, for commercial introduction.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘SUPSAN1605’ by way of harvesting vegetative ground shoots was first initiated in June of 2011 at Chonburi, Thailand. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a greenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation of vegetative ground shoots, five generations have been reproduced which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUPSAN1605’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SUPSAN1605’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUPSAN1605’ as a new and distinct Sansevieria cultivar:

-   -   1. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1605’ is a relatively large plant with an         upright to outward growth habit; and     -   2. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1605’ exhibits a vertically flattened,         orbicular plant form; and     -   3. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1605’ exhibits long, linear succulent         foliage with a semi-terete cross-section; and     -   4. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1605’ exhibits green foliage with         inconspicuous mottled radial bands which are slightly darker         green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘SUPSAN1605’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted in a 10 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of ‘SUPSAN1605’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in October of 2017, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 month old ‘SUPSAN1605’ plants grown in 10 cm containers, at a commercial greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand. The plants were grown using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Sansevieria plants which consisted of overhead irrigation, 50% shade cloth, and no fertilizer. No photoperiodic or chemical treatments were given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘SUPSAN1605’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘SUPSAN1605’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar commercial variety of Sansevieria are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Monopodial perennial; equitant and upright to             outward.         -   Plant form.—Vertically flattened, fan-shaped; orbicular.         -   Average height.—36.2 cm.         -   Plant spread.—12.8 cm at the narrowest point, and 39.5 cm at             the widest point.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Propagation type.—Division of vegetative ground shoots;             harvesting ground shoots from the mother plant.         -   Propagation details.—The time needed to root a shoot             division is approximately 2 to 3 months with temperatures             ranging from approximately 17 to 40 degrees Celsius.         -   Disease resistance.—Plants have not been observed to be             susceptible or resistant to pathogens and pests common to             Sansevieria.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             and 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain; moderate to high tolerance to             wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Moderately dense and sparsely to moderately             branched rooting; roots are slightly fibrous.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep.         -   Diameter of roots.—0.125 cm on average.         -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 165B. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Monopodial, equitant; decurrent leaf bases             form the stem.         -   Number of primary (main) stems per plant.—One.         -   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant.—None.         -   Appearance and shape.—Stem is not visible; decurrent leaf             bases form the stem.         -   Length.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an             average length of 4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an             average diameter of 2.1 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.5 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Distichous.         -   Attachment.—Decurrent.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity.—8.         -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 55 degrees to vertical.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 27.1 cm long and 2.0 cm wide. Thickness             — Approximately 1.4 cm. Shape of blade — Linear in outline.             Cross-section — Semi-terete. Aspect — Slightly curved             upward. Apex — Narrowly acute with a slightly papery tip,             which is colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156C. Base —             Decurrent. Margin — Entire. Texture of upper surface —             Glabrous; smooth; succulent. Texture of lower surface —             Glabrous; smooth; succulent. Luster of the upper surface —             Matte. Luster of the lower surface — Matte. Color — Juvenile             foliage, upper surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137B, with             mottled radial bands colored darker green, nearest to RHS             137B. Juvenile foliage, lower surface — Green, nearest to             RHS 137C, with mottled radial bands colored darker green,             nearest to RHS 138B; base is yellow-green, nearest to RHS             144A. Mature foliage, upper surface — Green, nearest to RHS             NN137C, with mottled radial bands colored darker green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 137C and 143A. Mature foliage,             lower surface — Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 137A and             NN137B, with mottled radial bands colored darker green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 137C and 143A; margins of the             decurrent base are papery and translucent and colored             greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Venation — Pattern —             Parallel. Color, upper surface — Nearest to a combination of             green, RHS NN137A, and greyed-green, RHS N189A. Color, lower             surface — Nearest to a combination of green, RHS NN137A, and             greyed-green, RHS N189A.         -   Petiole.—No petioles present, leaves are decurrent. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1605’ differ from the seed parent, Sansevieria hybrid ‘MXJM1105’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1605’ ‘MXJM1105’ Plant size. Larger than Smaller than ‘MXJM1105’. ‘SUPSAN1605’. Foliage cross section. Semi-terete. Terete. Foliage thickness. Thicker at the base and Generally the same gradually tapering thickness from base to the towards the apex. distal end and only tapering near the apex. Foliage texture. Less smooth than Smoother than ‘MXJM1105’. ‘SUPSAN1605’. General coloration Darker green. Lighter green. of the foliage.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1605’ differ from the pollen parent, Sansevieria hybrid ‘MXJF1105’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1605’ ‘MXJF1105’ Plant size. Smaller than ‘MXJF1105’. Larger than ‘SUPSAN1605’. Foliage cross section. Semi-terete. Quarter-terete. Foliage thickness. Thinner at the base. Thicker at the base. Foliage texture. Less smooth than Smoother than ‘MXJF1105’. ‘SUPSAN1605’. General coloration Lighter green. Darker green. of the foliage.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR SANSEVIERIA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1605’ are most similar to the commercial cultivar, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘SAN201202’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,457). A comparison of ‘SUPSAN1605’ with ‘SAN201202’ is described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1605’ ‘SAN201202’ Growth habit. Less compact than More compact than ‘SANS201202’. ‘SUPSAN1605’. Foliage aspect. Slightly curved upward. Generally straight. Foliage cross section. Semi-terete. Terete. Foliage length. Longer than Shorter than ‘SANS120202’. ‘SUPSAN1605’. Foliage thickness. Thicker than Thinner than ‘SAN201202’. ‘SUPSAN1605’. Foliage apex. Narrowly acute. Acute. General coloration of the Darker green. Lighter green. foliage. Prominence of the color Less prominent green More prominent green pattern on the foliage. mottled radial bands. mottled radial bands. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1605’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 